The Portland daily press., 1887-06-11


President Grant on his first visit to this
State, was welcomed at its western boundary
by the Hon. James G.. Blaine, and with him
proceeded through Portland and Bangor tc
Vanceboro. where great festivities were eel.
ebrating the opening Of the European &
North American railroad
President Grants second visit here was
two years later, when he came as the special
guest of Mr.. Blaine.
After this paper was finished, Hon. Han
nibal Hamlin told an amusing incident Of
Grants visit in Vanceboro.
THE CAPTURE OF THE MARGARIrTA.
The next paper, by Hon. Geo. +. Talbot.
was the capture of the Margaritta, the first
naval battle of the Revolution. The capture
was effected in a most daring manner by the
patriotic inhabitants Of Machias, notwith-
standing the superior forces at the command
of the British.
The Provincial Congress recognized this
action, as well as a subsequent capture Of
the Diligence, and placed both vessels at the
disposal of their takers. Mr.. Talbot closed
by reading letter dated in 1918, forty-three
years after the capture OF the Margartta,
which letter contained another account by
one who participated in the fight.
A vote of thanks to the authors Of these
three papers was then passed:
The Banquet.
At 6 o'clock the members Of the Society
and their guests assembled in the parlors of
the Falmouth Hotel Prominent among
them was the special guest of the occasion
Hon. James W. Bradbury. president Of the
Society, whose birthday the gentlemen pres
ent had assembled to honor. With his bright
clear eye and erect fgdre, he behed his s5
years, whose almost only sign was betokened
by his long snow-white hair. Among the
other guests who attracted great attention
was the revered Ex-Viee President of the
United States, Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, who,
at the age of seventy-eight, appeared young
er than many men of sixty. 1t is rare cir
cumstance that two men who have attained
such distinction as Mr.. Bradbury and Mr..
Hamlin, can be found both residents Of the
same State, the one representing its leading
historical Society by the highest Office in its
gift. and the other that Of the leading histo-
rical Society of the eastern part of the COM
monwealth.
James Ware Bradbury is native Of York
County, where his father, DR.. James Brad
bury was physician of eminence. He
graduated at Bowdoin College in the class
that included Longfellow, Hawthorn and
j. S. G. Abbott among its members.
He taught the Hallowell Academy.
for year and then studied law with
Mr., afterwards Judge Shepley and with
Rufus Mcintyre. In 1880 Mr. Bradbury set
tied in Augusta where he devoted himself to
his profession. He edited the Maine Patriot
and was also County Attorney. In 1874, first
as a nominating delegate at Baltimore, and
afterwards as president of the Maine Eec-
toral College, he assisted in making Mr.
Polk President Of the United States. In
1S47 he was elected a United States Senator
He had hardly taken his seat when he was
called on by the death Of his colleague, SEN
ator Fairchild, to pronounce the customary
eulogy. During his entire connection with
the Senate he held place on the committee
on the judiciary. He supported resolution
condemning partisan removals from Office
by President Taylor, who only followed the
course pursued by his predecessors. He
was chairman of the committee on the
French spoliation claims. He declined re-
election before the expiration Of his term of
Office. lie was an oyerseer and is now
trustee of Bowdoin College. On the death
of Prof. Cleveland he was chosen cores
ponding secretary of the Maine Historical
Society and on the death of Judge Bourne its
president.
After some half hour passed in social in
tercourse, and the extension Of congratula-
tions to the venerable President, the compa-
ny repaired to the small dining room for the
dinner. The coy apartment seemed all the
brighter and more cheerful, its new and rich
furnishings, its Towering plants that bedeck-
ed the windows, and were artistically grouped
about the apartment, its tables adorned with
large bouquets of rare flowers, and cut flow
ers trailing in odd designs over the snowy
napery, while at each Of the forty-two plates
was placed choice boutonniere. A superb
basket of roses and ferns, the name of the
donor not given, and an elegant bouquet from
Mrs. J. b. Brown, were placed in front of Mr..
Bradbury. The forty-two gentlemen pres
ent, as will be seen by the names, formed
assemblage in the men Of let
ters of Maine. AT the head of the table sat
Prof. Henry l.. Chapman of Bowdoin Col
lege. president of the occasion. At his right
was seated President Bradbury. The ar
of the guests was as follows